Customer Reviews

The Hermit

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I own every recording Renbourn has ever produced with his name on the main by-line, and he's never put out an unsatisfactory work. Even then, this is one of his best from his earlier years. It's an all solo-instrumental set with no vocals (though another truly exceptional guitarist, John James, sits in on several tracks as well), featuring both originally composed material and adapted works by O'Carolan and others. I like this particular album by Renbourn because his treatment of the material does not fall victim to his one occasional weakness as a guitarist: a tendency toward repetition. If you listened much to NPR's program "All Things Considered" in the 1970s and 1980s you will recognize one of the cuts from this album, which was used for many years as a filler sequence on that program.

to me, john renbourn does for the british isles what john fahey did for american folk music. his solo acoustic guitar work evokes the spirit of his homeland in a uniquely beautiful way. here he draws from Elizabethan age england, 17th and 18th century ireland, on up to 1991, with self-composed pieces. the guitar work itself is jaw-dropping great, not to be missed. lastly, i would like to praise the sound achieved on this recording. no producer is named in the linear notes, but whoever got this "sound" is to be commended. it comes through the speakers like mr renbourn is right there in the room with you. you can feel his fingers on the strings, and here them buzz after plucked with a clarity i've seldom heard on solo guitar recordings. great, great folk music from the british isles.

Beautiful--masterful guitar playing--it really just doesn't get much better than this. Very soothing--great to listen to at the office. As a bonus--there are a few tab transcriptions in the cover for guitar players!!!Something you don't find very often.

This is one of the best guitar albums of all time....an absolute must. Renbourn is a real pioneer and this album is everything modern steel string guitar is about.

excellent renditions of classic Renbourn material. John Renbourn is the master of celtic guitar. Traditional & versions of previous Pentangle material.